utilities & energy

Utilities such as electricity, firm gas, domestic and reclaimed water, and sewage capacity are purchased for campus use. Non-state funded units and activities are recharged monthly at the current rates for their purchased utility use. Managing our utility contracts to maximaize our utility dollars is a constant challenge as rates fluctuate significantly due to environmental factors that are nearly impossible to predict.

The Central Plant is the heart of the utility infrastructure of the Campus, producing and distributing chilled water (for cooling, dehumidification, and process cooling), high temperature hot water (HTHW) (for building heating water, domestic and industrial hot water, low-pressure steam generation for research equipment), and compressed air (for instrumentation and automation functions and for research laboratories) to campus buildings. Operating engineers also maintain equipment in campus buildings, such as boilers, water purification and vacuum equipment, as well as HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and refrigeration systems.

We urge you, as responsible campus, community, and world citizens, to think, act, and save to Conserve UCI. In addition, we strongly support the UC systemwide Sustainability initiative for the conservative and wise use of finite, natural resources - help keep the campus green.

Information concerning Unplanned Power Outages